Dear Members,

We chose a week with horrendous weather to aerate greens!

The actual process of solid tine aeration was completed this morning. (Thursday) However, we still need to topdress greens, double aerate collars and add fertilizer products. These procedures will be done next week. Greens may be a little bumpy until they heal over and warmer weather will help!

A few green edges (weak areas) of greens were chewed up by aerators, especially #14. We are repairing these now and will continue until complete.

Greens’ speed was aided this spring because of four chemical applications to prevent Poa annua seedheads from appearing during May and June. These applications also slow the growth of greens’ turf, and provide fast green speeds for golfers. 2016 is the first time we’ve applied these growth regulators since 2013 because turfgrass wasn’t strong enough in 2014 and 2015 after those severe winters.

Next week, we will aerate and overseed old areas of cartpaths that were sodded over a few years ago. This sod has thinned out since the original planting.

Wall to wall crabgrass herbicides have been applied. Broadleaf weed control has begun, but the rainy week has stopped our progress for now. An insecticide will be applied within the next few days to control annual bluegrass weevil adults, the first of three or four applications to control this persistent turf munching pest.

Thanks to many members for the many kind comments about golf course conditions this spring. Thanks also to our hard working crews whose efforts we all enjoy!

And always, if anyone has any questions about our operation, we are always happy to explain any aspect of golf course maintenance. Feel free to email me at patrickgertner@potowomut.com.

Hope to see everyone soon…..and feel free to bring some sun with you!

Patrick Gertner CGCS

Dear Members,

It's amazing that as of April 5th, greens have been open for almost four weeks....yet today are covered by six inches of snow! Snow yesterday was not totally unexpected, but the cold reality of going back to winter has not been pleasant! Golf course turf will be undamaged after accumulated snow melts and hopefully putts will be rolling again at Potowomut sometime this weekend. We will keep everyone posted about snow melt progress!

During the winter we spent time on these tasks:
Removing weedy sumac trees that were growing along golf course perimeters on holes #5, 6, 11 and 12.
Removed two large trees that were causing turfgrass problems due to shade behind #7 green.
Lime was applied to 70 acres of golf course rough for proper soil nutrition.
All greens' sprinkler heads were taken apart and thoroughly cleaned.
Refurbished golf course accessories and mowing equipment.
New water well that was drilled in late 2015 was opened up increasing its initial output by over 50%. Prices are being procured for the Board of Governors to determine costs to utilize this potential new water source.
Late February and early March weather had us way ahead of schedule compared to the average spring. Pumps and irrigation have been fully operational since March 9th. Seasonal help was hired early and the golf course was extremely clean before last weekend's winds. When crews return later this week, we will get right back to numerous spring tasks which include:
Wall to wall chemical applications for pre-emergent crabgrass and annual bluegrass weevils.
Sprinkler edging and yardage tag cleaning.
Clean up of clubhouse and golf course planting beds including new mulch installation.
Edging a few greenside bunkers not completed during 2015.
Converting greens' sprinkler rotors to full circle for improved irrigation to edges of greens.
Preventing greens Poa annua seedhead formation from applications of growth regulator Ethephon.
Collar aeration.
Hope to see everyone back on the golf course very soon....where we all belong!

Patrick Gertner CGCS